Degree Programs

The programs we offer represent some of the fastest growing professional fields and industries. That’s why we offer them. View the alphabetical list of all of our programs here.

Accounting

The Accounting program is an Associate of Applied Science degree program that can prepare you for entry-level positions in an accounting-related career by providing you the technical and other skills you need to be successful.

Bookkeeping

Business & Technology

Business Entrepreneurship

An Entrepreneurship Diploma will prepare students who want to start and operate a successful business of any kind. Students will prepare a comprehensive business plan ready to implement while also learning technical and professional skills through a variety of courses including accounting, project management, supervisory management, small business entrepreneurship, and business law. This diploma is available through classes on campus, online, or a combination of both.

Business Office Professional

The business world offers well-trained students an endless list of opportunities. You can own a business and be your own boss. You can manage a store for someone else. You can run the social media marketing operation for a company or an ad agency. You could manage an office or be an executive assistant. Or, you can use your imagination to do whatever you’ve always dreamed about.

Business Social Media Marketing

A certificate in Social Media Marketing will prepare students for this specialized field to meet the needs of businesses who want to reach customers where they are by utilizing social platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, and Blogs.

Computer-Aided Drafting

Computer-Aided Drafting is a hands-on program, and you will spend most of your day learning by doing. You will prepare drawings under the guidance of instructors who are true experts and will graduate with the abilities and knowledge that set you apart from the crowd.

Computer Science

The Computer Science program strikes a balance between theory and application. You will learn about real-life networking environments so you can be immediately productive when you graduate. You will enter the job market ready and prepared to take on a wide variety of information technology roles.

Criminal Justice

Western Dakota Tech offers a Criminal Justice program and Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Emphasis program. Our program will give you the skills and experiences you need to be successful in a wide variety of career fields. Since both are two-year Associate of Applied Science programs, you will be in the workforce quickly, ready to make our communities better.

Dental Assisting

Drafting and Machining Technology

Drafting and Machining Technology is a four-semester, two-year Associate of Applied Science degree program designed to prepare students for the growing number of jobs in these fields.

It’s the perfect choice for someone who wants to understand the entire process of how mechanical parts are designed, drawn, and created. The program also gives students skills in other areas of drafting so they will be ready for a wide variety of jobs when they graduate.

Electrical Trades

In this program, you will practice technical skills under the guidance of instructors who are true experts. The result? You graduate with abilities and knowledge that set you apart. If you are ready to prepare for an interesting and challenging career in a growing field, we are ready to help you acquire the skills and experience you need.

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)

Get on the healthcare pathway by taking classes at WDT to prepare for the National Registry for Emergency Medical Technicians Exam. Students will gain instruction and hands-on practice in all aspects of emergency medical care at the Emergency Medical Technician level in accordance with the National Registry and the Department of Transportation guidelines. Classes are offered to WDT students and the general public. Take the classes as part of the Paramedic program or individually as a test preparation method for half the price. Either way you’ll be ready for the EMT Exam!

Environmental Engineering Tech

The Environmental Engineering Tech program is designed to prepare students for work in an exciting and growing field. As our population grows, society puts an ever increasing demand on our natural resources.

Fire Science

If you crave excitement and adventure wanting to respond to fires or medical emergencies, Western Dakota Tech offers a Fire Science Program for you. Your Associate of Applied Science Degree will make you more marketable in the highly competitive career of working for a professional fire department or wildland agency.The Pro Board Certification Program is administered by the Fire Science program in coordination with the Corporate Education Center at Western Dakota Tech. Students receive training to meet the standards specified for Pro Board Firefighter certifications. For more information on the Pro Board, visit the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications website.

Health Information Management

HVAC & Refrigeration Technology

The Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration (HVAC/R) field is growing quickly. Demand for workers is high because there are not enough skilled technicians to fill all the available positions.

Our HVAC/R program will give you the appropriate mix of soft skills, theory, hands-on experience. We put classroom theory into practice in the lab with simulations and real-life scenarios to give you the skill necessary to be successful in the HVAC/R industry. We use a variety of modern HVAC/R equipment, trainers, simulation software, measuring instruments, and tools. Our program is designed to give you the core competencies employers are looking for. These include troubleshooting, problem-solving, customer service, and professional skills in addition to technical HVAC/R skills. Graduates of our program enter the HVAC/R industry as quality, well-trained entry-level HVAC/R technicians.

Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Emphasis

The mission of the Law Enforcement Technology program is to prepare students with the knowledge and skills necessary for employment as an entry-level law enforcement officer, as assessed through student competency evaluations and employer/student satisfaction surveys.

Library Technician

If you love libraries, you know they are exciting and interesting places where anything and everything can be found. Imagine working as a library technician helping others discover the love of learning and wonder that occurs in a library. Western Dakota Tech offers a Library Technician Program just for you.

Medical Assisting

The Medical Assisting program prepares students for a variety of careers in the medical profession. A Medical Assistant is a professional, multi-skilled person who assists in all aspects of medical care and is primarily employed in a medical office setting. Medical Assistants help physicians with patient care management. They also execute administrative and clinical procedures and perform managerial functions.

Medical Laboratory Technician

Paramedic

People’s lives often depend on the quick reaction and competent care of paramedics. Incidents as varied as automobile accidents, heart attacks, slips and falls, childbirth, and gunshot wounds all require immediate medical attention. Paramedics provide this vital service as they care for and transport the sick or injured to a medical facility. It’s an important and worthwhile career. WDT can help you get there.

This program is supported by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and training Administration. The product was created by the grantee and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The U.S. Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. Western Dakota Tech’s individual grant of $2,058,946 funds 100% of their portion of the South Dakota Allied Health Training Consortium project.

Pharmacy Technician

WDT’s Pharmacy Tech program educates and trains students for positions in hospitals, retail pharmacies, and other medical facilities working as pharmacy technicians assisting registered pharmacists in all aspects of prescription dispensing. The goal of the Pharmacy Technician program at WDT is to educate and train students for positions in hospitals, retail pharmacies, and other medical facilities working as pharmacy technicians assisting registered pharmacists in all aspects of pharmaceutical care.

Phlebotomy/Laboratory Assistant

Plumbing Technology

Plumbers evaluate, install, and repair piping systems in businesses, residences, and other places where there are pipes or septic systems. Demand for workers is high because there are not enough skilled technicians to fill all the available positions.

Our Plumbing program will give you the experience and skills you need to be a successful Plumber. We use lab simulations and real-life scenarios to put classroom theory into practice. We cover soft skills so you can tackle customer service and employee accountability with confidence. Our program is designed to give you the core competencies employers are looking for. These include troubleshooting, problem-solving, customer service, and professional skills in addition to technical Plumbing skills. Graduates of our program enter the Plumbing industry as quality, well-trained entry-level plumbers.

Practical Nursing

The mission of the Western Dakota Tech Practical Nursing Program is to educate graduates to provide safe, quality, evidence-based, patient-centered care as an entry level Practical Nurse in the current healthcare environment.

This program is supported by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and training Administration. The product was created by the grantee and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The U.S. Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. Western Dakota Tech’s individual grant of $2,058,946 funds 100% of their portion of the South Dakota Allied Health Training Consortium project.

Precision Machining Technology

Surgical Technology

The mission of the Surgical Technology program is to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and dedication necessary to become successful, valuable, and effective surgical technologists in the communities that they serve.

Technical Studies

The Technical Studies curriculum will differ for each student. Individualized plans of study will be developed to meet the students’ career goals and be approved by the Registrar at WDT. The exact mix of courses will vary from student to student, as long as the minimum credit hour requirements are met and the courses counted toward the degree assist the student in meeting his or her career goal.

Transportation Technology - Heavy Duty

The Transportation Technology associate of applied science degree will provide education in most types of land transportation vehicles.

Students will have the option of selecting lighter vehicle or heavier equipment tracks. This program will provide a broader preparation for the mechanical occupations with separate focuses on lighter and heavier duty vehicles.

Transportation Technology - Light Duty

The Transportation Technology associate of applied science degree will provide education in most types of land transportation vehicles.

Students will have the option of selecting lighter vehicle or heavier equipment tracks. This program will provide a broader preparation for the mechanical occupations with separate focuses on lighter and heavier duty vehicles.

Welding and Fabrication

The Welding and Fabrication program prepares students for a career in the welding and fabrication fields. The combination of classroom theory, hands-on welding and fabrication skills training, and practical application in labs allows the student to attain skills for entry-level employment.

WESTERN DAKOTA TECH MISSIONWestern Dakota Tech is a public institution of higher learning that embraces quality programs, expert faculty and staff, and a commitment to academic excellence to teach the knowledge, skills, and behaviors students need to be successful.